GoTriCities has been a media sponsor of Bristol Rhythm and Roots for the past few years and we couldn’t be more excited to see the festival celebrating its eighth year. It’s one of the most popular music festivals in the mountains of Tennessee and this year will entertain more than 300,000 music lovers into the city that shares two states.
The organizers had an appreciation social for the sponsors last Friday and I was glad to attend. I didn’t know we were going to experience one of the most lavish old buildings in downtown Bristol.
The Old Custom Shop is on the national historic register and evidently privately owned by the founders of King Pharmaceutical. I’d seen the building on Shelby Street and recognized the old Federal facade, but when we walked past the “hidden cameras” signed I was a even more curious.
Inside the foyer, it looked like an old post office, but the corridors had several display cases with rare acoustic music instruments signed by the legends of country music. The room seemed to be a mosque in Bristol and the only thing that brought me back to reality were the sponsors gathered in this ornate ballroom.
Leah Ross, the festival director greeted me inside the door and her enthusiasm and passion for this festival. She seemed suprisingly calm despite the chaos of people in the room, but I was glad to hear that online ticket sales were up 25% this year.
We were fashionably late, but had a few bites from Southern Culinary Caterer and made our way to the sponsor table. I was delighted to speak with Steve Hawkins from WCYB and feel a real appreciation for his place in our community. We’re both so old now, we go back to all kinds of crossroads. He’s been one of my favorite local broadcasters for years and I sure hope he’s well with the new ownership of Channel 5.
Our friend Clay Pruett was performing on acoustic guitar and it was a real pleasure to see him again. We’ve spent many nights with Clay over the summer as he entertains regularly at The Marker 2 Grill on Boone Lake. It’s good to see him working his improv magic and acoustic style among the Bristol music affectionados.
We sat at a table in the back of the room and Leah introduced the festival director who began to recognize the sponsors and thank them for their commitment to this festival. This roster includes a lot of important names too;
City of Bristol, TN, City of Bristol, VA, The Crooked Road, The Birthplace of Country Music Alliance, WCYB, Bristol Herald Courier, Embarq, King Pharmeceutical and GoTriCities.
One of the most interesting moments of the night was hearing Bristol, TN mayor James Messimer and Bristol, VA mayor Farnham Jarrard show their support for Rhythm and Roots. It’s important to realize that both sides of the city support this festival and between the board, the sponsors and the volunteers (past and present) it’s clear there is a special shared passion for this annual event.
GoTriCities was the only media, other than WCYB attending this event and it was a real treat to accept their recognition this year and we can’t wait til the weekend.
On the way out, we had a chance to tour the Old Custom Shop and was awed by the furniture and facilities inside this building. There is a 40 foot credenza from the Vatican in the second floor ballroom and chandeliers that were rumored to be $30k each. Swanky indeed for the Birthplace of Country Music.
Should be a great weekend for the music. Clear will be performing Friday night at 11.00 at Borderline Billiards and I can’t wait to see the weekend roll out. I plan on catching Rob Russell, Reagan Boggs, The everybodyfields and some other new artists with my friends and hope to see you there.